Defense corruption: Phl gets low mark

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is among the countries where risk of corruption in the defense sector is “very high” due to lack of transparency and weak congressional oversight, an international watchdog said.

A study by Transparency International UK showed that the Philippines belongs to “band E” – countries with “very high risk” of corruption in the defense sector.

With the Philippines in the group are Afghanistan, Bahrain, Cote d’Ivoire, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

Sought for comment, defense department spokesman Peter Galvez said measures have been undertaken to curb corruption and promote transparency in their procurement.

“We have instituted measures to ensure greater transparency in our acquisitions. We have invited the media, NGOs (non-government organizations) and civil society to observe the process,” Galvez said in a phone interview.

“The survey may not have taken into consideration the new developments under the new administration,” he added.

Galvez said they were not aware of any effort by Transparency International to look into their system.

“We wish to know basis of study,” he said.

Other groupings in the survey are band A or “very low risk,” band B or “low risk,” band C or “moderate risk,” band D or “high risk” and band F or “critical risk.”

Countries in band A were Australia and Germany while those belonging to band B were Austria, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom and the United States.

Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Spain belong to Band C.

Countries grouped under band D were Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, India, Israel, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Nepal, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Turkey.

Nine countries – Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Syria, and Yemen – were in band F or countries with “critical risk.” The report said these countries lack even the basic anti-corruption measures.

Transparency International UK analyzed 82 countries selected according to the size of their arms trade, the absolute and per capita size of the military, size of their security sector.

In its study, Transparency International UK said political corruption risks are the most prevalent in the Philippines due to lack of oversight authority of Congress.

“The defense budget is available online and there have been recent examples of vigorous debates on the subject of defense policy in the Senate. Despite this, considerable power rests with the president and the de facto oversight authority of the Congress is limited,” the study read.